"Tobacco Road," the book, was the "Grapes of Wrath" of the Hoover era. Its coarse characters, crude action, and real-to-life plot made it a sociology text as well as a novel. It was a chunky, earthy portrayal of actual conditions on Georgia tenant farms by a writer whose pen had the realistic flair of Rembrandt's paintbrush. Adapted for the stage in 1933 "Tobacco Road" broke all records for longevity and attendance. Its dialogue was delivered not only with Georgia drawl but also with Georgia poor-white, obscene explicitness. The pathetic humor of the play prodded the social conscience as well as the funny-bone. After seven years of audience accolades, reviewers, who once had passed it off as a pornographic potpourri, cautiously re-appraised it as "deservedly popular." "Tobacco Road," the most famous play since "Abic's Irish Rose," was a success!

Darryl F. Zanuck, deeply moved by a chance to aid fallen humanity (at regular admission prices), announced that Hollywood would do the unbelievable--make a picture of "Tobacco Road," worthy of the book, as great as the play, equal to the "Grapes of Wrath." John Ford was selected for director. Charley Grapewin, one of the finest character actors in films, was given the role of Jeeter Lester. Gene Tierney was selected for the sluttish Lester daughter after a far-flung talent search. The best photographers in Hollywood, superb make-up artists, perfectly realistic sets were assembled. Hollywood held its breath and Darryl F. Zanuck counted the Academy Awards.

But somehow a Mack Sennett disciple, perhaps Buster Keaton, was given the job of re-writing the script for the screen. The resultant story had the old name and the old characters, but a somewhat newer approach to the problems of the tenant farmer. Slim Summerville ended up in one of the key dramatic parts; the Three Stooges and Mickey Rooney were unfortunately unavailable, so the Esquire hillbilly roles written for them were given to lesser-known great actors. Will Hays found nothing to censor, and the Governor of Georgia's sole complaint was that the state's fine peaches weren't given a plug. Others who read the book or saw the play will find "Tobacco Road," the picture, one of the funniest slapstick comedies of the year--the most disappointing Hollywood product since the flickers declared themselves an art.